Two-way overrunning clutch



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r w. E. SWIFT, JR TWO -WAY OVERRUNNING CLUTCH Filed Aug. 6, 1943 v g: a, m a y/ t '0 N N. 'Im I w c\| 2 I f 8 mmvmx Willard E. Swift Jr.

' wmrm ATTORNEYS.

I Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWO-WAY OVERRUNNING CLUTCH Willard E. Swift, Jr., Worcester, Mass. Application August .6, 1943 Serial No. 497,583 I (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention pertains to a novel twoway overrunning clutch. Various uses for such a device will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The operation of the device depends on the radial expansion of a spring engaged at one end by the driving member, as the result of resistance to free rotation interposed by an energizin spring coiled in continuation of the first spring and having light frictionalengagement with a fixed surroundingmember, The driven member surrounds the first or expanding spring and, when rotating faster, relieves the expansion pressure-and causes the expansion spring to disengage, so that the driven member overruns. Such driving and energizing means for the first spring is provided at each end thereof and hence the device clutches and overruns in either direction.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device, and

Figure 2 isa section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The principal clutching member is a comparatively heavy cylindrical helicalspring I, preferably of rectangular cross section. Through the spring extends a drive-shaft 2, preferably spaced only slightly from the inner cylindrical wall 3 of e the spring. The convolutions of the spring may normally be in mutual contact and are channeled at 4 along their edges and also transversely at 5 for lubrication. The ends 6 of the spring are bent out and anchored to collars I in notches 8 from the free or outer end, The first spring I2 may stop against a cross pin I3 through the shaft 2. The lug II is readily received in the notch I0 of the corresponding collar "I. At the outer end, a separate shaft extension I4 carrying the lug I I and received in the corresponding spring I2 is fastened by a screw I5. The screw also holds a. plate I6 which retains the extension I4. The notches I0, III are oversized with respect to the lugs in the circumferential direction. After'the extension I4 has been properly located, it is secured by a pin I1.

The driven member is illustrated as a gear I8 surrounding the spring I and spaced slightly therefrom when the mechanism is at rest. The

gear may be held in bearings I9. On rotation of the shaft 2, one of the lugs engages and exerts pressure first against a side of the corresponding pressure of the spring I against the internal surface of the member I8 is considerably greater than the pressure of the spring I2'on the stationary member 9, the amplification factor being as high as 60,000 in some cases, sothat the member I8 may drive a substantial load. In the clutching action, the channels and grooves in the spring I I receive the lubricant that is scraped or'squeeze'd off the contacting surfaces of the spring and driven member. I

The expansion and the clutching action of the spring I, as noted, is due to the driving force of a lug I I or H against a collar 1 in the unwinding direction of the spring. member I8 tends to rotate faster than the shaft 2,

it tends to drive the collar I faster than the lug,

and the driving force is lost. The spring 2, therefore, disengages the member I8 and the latter overruns. The operation is the same in either direction of rotation of the shaft 2, since the mechanism is symmetrical with respect to a transverse central plane. g",

The clearance of the lugs II and II' in their respective notches I0 accommodate the lag of the non-driven or tracting of the spring 2.

Although aspecific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the'irivention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is Consequently, if the collar 1 during expansion 1. A two-way overrunning clutch comprising coaxial drive and driven members one within the other, a helical spring coiled between said members, means retarding rotation of said spring in either direction, and means on said drive mem- 6. A two-way overrunning clutch comprising a helical spring, a drive shaft through said her for selectively exerting pressure on the ends of said spring on rotation of said member to bind said spring against said driven member.

2. Adiwo-way over-running clutch comprising,"

' coaxial drive'a'nd driven members one within the rotationof said member to bind said" rounding said energizing springs and frictionally engaging them, and means on said drive memher for selectively. exerting pressure on ,the ends of the first named spring on rotatlon of'said member toflbind said spring against said driven'mem-' ber.

4; A two-way over-running clutch comprising a helical spring, a drive shaftpassing through said spring, means on said shaft for selectively exerting'pressure on the ends of said spring in the. unwinding direction, during rotation of said shaft, and mean adaptedto retard rotation of said springin" either direction.

'5. Atwo-way-overrunning clutch comprising a helical spring, a drive shaft passing through said spring, means on said shaft positioned to exert pressure'selectivelyon the ends of said spring ,in the unwinding direction, during rotation oi fsaid shaft. energizing elements connected to both ends of saidspring, adriven member loosely suri said spring, and engageabie with the outer surface of the first spring on radial ex sion thereof, and relatively members adapted toretard rotation of. said elements.

spring, a collar attached to each end of said a spring, portions of said shaft abutting said collars in the spring-unwinding direction, during rotation of said shaft, an energizing element fixed-to each collar, a driven member loosely surrounding the first spring and engageable with the outer surface of the first spring on radial expansion thereof, and relativel fixed members surround- 1 ing the energizing elements and frictionally enazed thereby.

'l. A two-wayoverru'nning clutch comprising a helical spring, a drive shaft passing through said spring, meanslon said shaft for selectively exerting pressure on the ends of said spring in the unwinding direction, during rotation of shaft, energizing springs fixed to both ends of first spring, a driven member looselv'surrounding the first spring and engageable with the outer i surface of the first spring on radial expansion thereof, and fixed members surrounding the energizing springs and frictionally engagedthereby. 8. A two-way overrunning clutch comprising a helical spring, a drive shaft through said spring, a collar attached to each end of said spring and having a notch, projections from said shaft extending loosely into said notches and adapted to drive said collars in the spring-un- .winding direction, energizing springs fixed to each collar, a. driven member loosely surrounding the first spring and engageable with the outer surface ofthe first springon radial expansion thereof, and fixed members surrounding the energizing springs and frictionally engaged thereby.

9. A two-way overrunning clutch comprising a fixed element, a driving element, a driven 8195' ment, a clutching element driven by said driving .1 element and adapted to engage said driven ele- .40 ment on a cylindrical surface, and means 1;:-

able by the interaction between the driving element and the fixed element for enga d clutching element with-said driven element in l: .1": a. s, is.

either direction of rotation of said drig ale as ment Y a 1 

